O Papel dos balcões de informação turística para a promoção do turismo na província de Inhambane

Abstract

The study addresses the Role of Tourist Information Desks (BIT) for the Promotion of Tourism in Inhambane Province. Due to the natural and cultural peculiarities that characterize the province, it is configured as the most outstanding tourist destination in Mozambique, and the need to disseminate more detailed tourist information elevates the role of the BITs of Tofo beach and the Municipality of Vilankulo. General objective of the research is to analyze the role of BITs for the Promotion of Tourism in Inhambane Province; with the following specific objectives: i) Identify the tourist attractions and types of tourism promoted in the province; ii) Describe the process of promoting tourist information in the BITs located in the Province of Inhambane; iii) Present the advantages and disadvantages in the process of promoting tourist information in the BITs located in the Province; iv) Diagnose the challenges of tourism information professionals to improve the performance of BITs in the Province; and v) Propose service improvements at the BITs as the main tool for promoting tourist information in the Province. Bibliographic and documentary research, interviews with two professionals from both BITs, survey of 60 tourists and direct observation were applied. Then, the analysis of the results was made by the methods of content analysis and monograph. The results indicate that the Province has a diversity of natural tourist attractions (beaches and conservation areas) and cultural (cultural manifestations and built heritage) with great value for the promotion of tourism. It was found that the Province has only two BITs, one located on Tofo beach and the other in Vilankulo Municipality. These play a crucial role in promoting more detailed tourist information to tourists. It was noted that there are challenges ahead, making it necessary for information professionals to seek short, medium and long-term solutions with regard to localization, information diversification, technical-professional qualification, extension of working hours, language diversification promotional material and information innovation. It is concluded that the improvement of BIT services will contribute to the promotion of tourism in the province, with greater emphasis on promoting tourist attractions, reinvigorating undervalued tourist spaces, disseminating the province's image and facilitating the capture of tourist flows, besides being sources of consultation for academic and sectorial researches in the evaluation of the tourist profile. (TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)